Perfect Boiled Potatoes

These boiled potatoes are buttery and delicious! How to cook potatoes with the best creamy texture and salty, grassy flavor.

Need a quick and easy side dish that goes with almost anything anything? Try these Perfectly cooked potatoes! Gone are the days of bland or mushy potatoes. Here are all the tricks to get the ideal creamy texture and sweet, buttery, and salty taste. It couldn’t be easier once you master two things: the right type of potato and the formula for how long to cook potatoes. Remember that and you will repeat this recipe. It might sound simple, but they were so good we couldn’t stop smuggling them out of the jar! (Really.)

The right variety for boiled potatoes

If you read anything in this article, read this. For the better Boiled potatoes use a waxy potato, such as B. small yellow, red, new or fried potatoes. Use red potatoes only when cooking them for mashed potatoes. Here’s why:

• Waxy potatoes are best for cooking. It’s any type of potato with a thin, shiny skin and creamy flesh. Since they are low in starch, they keep their shape when cooked. Waxy potatoes include yellow, red, Yukon Gold, new, and fingerling potatoes. The cooked texture is buttery and the flavor is almost sweet. See also: Red potatoes cooked with herbs.
• Avoid starchy potatoes for boiled potatoes (unless you plan on mashing them). Red potatoes are large and have a rough, dark brown skin: the kind you’d expect from a baked potato. They have a chewy texture when cooked, but break down when cooked. Only use them if you plan on cooking potatoes as part of the mashed potato making process.

How long to cook potatoes

How long does it take to cook potatoes? It depends on their size, small or large, and the variety of potato. Here is a general guide:

• Most chopped potatoes take 12-18 minutes to cookwhen it falls into the water.
• The exact time depends on it on the size of the pieces and the type of potato.
• Test if the potato is done Prick with a fork to see if it’s soft.

How to cook potatoes: master method

How do you cook your potatoes so they’re perfectly tender? There are few clues. Here’s what to do:

• Choose a waxy potato such as small yellow potatoes, red, new or young potatoes and cut in half. Large golden Yukon potatoes work when cut into bite-sized pieces.
• Boil a large pot of salted water. Use 1 tablespoon kosher salt. It’s easier to boil the water first and then add the potatoes (instead of starting with both in the pot).
• Add the potatoes and cook for 15 to 20 minutes. Add them carefully to avoid splashing hot water! Test if they are soft by piercing them with a fork.
• Drain and season. Add salted butter or olive oil, salt and pepper. Add fresh herbs like chives, thyme, or oregano if you like.

Flavors and Supplements

The best way to season boiled potatoes? Just butter and salt! But there are many ways to improve this recipe. Here are some of our favorite ideas:

• Salted butter or olive oil
• fresh chives
• thyme or oregano
• basil or parsley
• tarragon or dill
• Finely chopped shallots
• sour cream
• bacon

Make it a meal: how to serve it

It’s hard to find a recipe that doesn’t go well with these potatoes! (Okay, maybe not pasta. Still!) It’s the perfect accompaniment to chicken, fish, or a vegetarian main course. Here are some great ways to accessorize them:

Other ways to use boiled potatoes

Instead of seasoning these potatoes as a side dish, feel free to use them in other recipes! Use them as a base for:

This recipe is…

Vegetarian and gluten free. Use olive oil for plant-based, dairy-free, and vegan products.

More potato recipes

These main potatoes are part of a long list of great potato recipes! Here are some of our favorite ways to use everyone’s favorite potatoes: